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THE REAL BOSS
IS THE CLIENT…
...says Jens Abromeit, the COO of Bavaria Yachts. And: “We do
everything to ensure that the customer receives the best possible
product for the best possible price”.
How does he want to achieve this? Abromeit smiles and refers to
the strong tradition of the company. His professional background
is actually in technical chemistry. In 1997 he moved from his field
of work, environmental technology, to the Michelin tyre group,
where he soon held various management positions. From being
an engineer, his steep career at Michelin led him to become production
8
manager at the Bamberg plant, then he managed a plant
in Russia, later he moved to Michelin’s HQ in France where he was
responsible for plant control and industrial strategy, then he went
back to Bamberg, now as General Manager. “I have always been
involved in change management, building the team, introducing
lean manufacturing,” he explains. After Michelin, he was Managing
Director at Bürstner Reisemobile, responsible for development,
production and finance. At that time, he was already observing
Bavaria Yachts: “You always have to look at where other companies
are better and how they do it. Being open and expanding your
own horizons is extremely important!”
After another three and a half years as COO at the lighting group
at Osram AG, “I managed the turnaround there as well”, he was
asked whether he would like to switch to Bavaria Yachts? And he
wanted to, because he already knew the company from the outside
and found it interesting. Just like the products, that involve
technology, design, and lifestyle.
“Bavaria is a success story,” says Abromeit. “The founder, Mr. Hermann,
has built up the business and the yard here very successfully.
And I know Franconia, I like the mentality and lifestyle here. I
have come to know the Franconians as reliable and clear. I like an
open word. You can achieve a lot this way. And I have been here for
a year now and together, we have already moved a lot!”
“A challenge, like Bavaria Yachts, is characteristic of my career,”
says Abromeit. A crisis? He laughs: “A crises mainly serves to
reposition yourself! Here we are again working in a very process
oriented way, which means being once again more professional.
This factory was once designed by Winfried Hermann like
an industrial car production, according to the principle of lean
manufacturing”.
But a crisis like Corona can trigger even more. “We have played
through and analysed all possible scenarios here. It is professional
to have a plan in your pocket for every conceivable scenario and
then be able to act accordingly. A crisis is always an accelerator of
change!”
“ We picked up the team by its strengths. Setting priorities,
strengthening the employees in what they do and thus increasing
their potential. It’s fun, the employees accept it. There is a good
atmosphere in the shipyard. The glow in the eyes of the employees,
that is the very best feedback! A big compliment to everyone.
We want to modernise our organisation and working methods
long-term. Authentic and efficient. As a manager I see myself
more like a coach and trainer in sports. Success is always a team
effort”.
But what will change with regards to the yachts? “With our
products, we want to focus more on our brand core - from 29 to
50 feet in length. Bavaria used to be the VW among boats: Highest
quality. Reliable and technically very sound, that’s what we want to
offer consistently”.
“To achieve this we are going back to a logical industrial series
production according to the lean principles, from the development
right through to the delivery of the finished yacht . With a platform
strategy for the models, that enable us to use more shared parts
across the range. That is why there need not be fewer models. The
C38 is a boat entirely of its own, but has elements of the C42. This
is how reproducible quality works. In 18 months we have so far
launched four new models, which is quite remarkable. But it goes
on, we want to be continuously active and innovative”.
At the end of the interview Jens Abromeit explains his vision for
Bavaria Yachts: “I have the ambition that we build up the shipyard
of the future here. Because with the methods of 20 years ago we
will only achieve the results of 20 years ago, at most. But Bavaria
Yachts has been very innovative in the past and we can be that
again now and in the future”.
BAVARIA - COO JENS ABROMEIT